Sanford Officials Press Police Chief For Changes

Some Officers Don't Have A Good Working Relationship With Joe Dillard, Commissioners Said.

April 19, 1997|By Elaine Backhaus of The Sentinel Staff

SANFORD — City officials want the police chief to be more aggressive, create an open-door policy and set up a forum for officers to vent concerns without fear of reprisal.

Mayor Larry Dale and city commissioners Velma Williams and Kerry Lyons recently told Chief Joe Dillard that they will hold him accountable if they don't see improvements soon.

Commissioners also have strongly urged that the police force be more positive at work, bicker less, make an effort to work with the police chief and show him respect.

''I hate to see us force the issues,'' Lyons said, ''but I have heard that some officers are fed up and ready to leave. Don't let the door hit you in the back if those are the attitudes. Either work to make it better, or leave.''

Williams said she is concerned because there has been no sign of improvement since January, when she was sworn into office.

She said the problems, which have plagued the department for years, continue to fester because there appears to be no open-door policy by the chief. Nor have officers given department administrators a chance, she said.

''Both the Police Department employees and administration have an obligation to work together,'' Williams said. ''As a commissioner, I can only appeal to the employees to be positive in trying to resolve the problems.''

However, she said, it is the City Commission's job to direct Dillard to initiate the ''healing'' process.

Commissioners said they realize that many of the problems existed before Dillard became chief late last year.

''We need healing because morale and trust is at an all-time low on both sides. If you don't have trust or respect you are headed for disaster,'' Williams said.

City officials have tried to encourage a better atmosphere at the department.

At a commission meeting last month, Dillard and many officers agreed to overcome past differences. The city promised to hire a consultant to recommend how to reorganize the department and boost morale.

Dale also set up a labor management committee and volunteered to serve as its chairman to try to resolve officers' grievances before they become issues during collective bargaining. The committee was to have been organized last November after a union contract was ratified.

Just when it appeared both sides would begin to work out their problems, two incidents occurred that may have worsened matters, city officials said.

In March, Dale stopped the Citizens Advisory Board from operating until the commission could clarify its role. Confusion arose after the board's chairman, Martha Yancey, created subcommittees to assist the board. One subcommittee met with numerous former and current police officers, discussed their concerns and agreed to work to help assess the officers' needs.

However, city commissioners said Yancey had no authority to create subcommittees. They said the board's role is to listen to residents' complaints and report to the police chief and commission on needs for law enforcement programs or action.

Yancey disagreed and resigned.

Also, earlier this month police Cpl. Sharon Sheafer died of a heart attack. Her family, friends and peers blamed Dillard and other administrators for her death.

Sheafer had a heart attack April 2, the day she was to learn from Dillard whether she would be suspended or demoted.

Dillard had indicated at one point that he would fire Sheafer for distributing a copy of an investigative report on a fellow officer's wife. But he said he decided against that in late March during a meeting with Sheafer and other officers.

Family, friends and Sheafer's peers said she thought she would be fired. They said the stress created by the situation led to her heart attack and death.

Dillard would not discuss the issue. His daughter, Janice Dillard, of Orlando recently spoke on his behalf.

''There have been problems in the Police Department for more than 20 years,'' she said. ''How can anyone expect someone to come in and correct 20 or more years of problems overnight - singlehandedly - without the support of the officers or community?

''I am disappointed,'' she said. ''Sanford should be willing to stand behind someone who is trying to do the right thing. What has my father done that has been so morally wrong or illegal that he should not be given a chance?''